2015 Audi TT Review: Coupe de Grand

It will not take an amazing IQ to know the direct relation between money spent and power received. The more the merrier finds a straight relevance here. Thus, the fatter your pockets are the more horses will do duty underneath your fast car but then there is a teeny-weeny issue here.

Supercars are extremely awesome and many would willingly agree to that. They look as if dropped from the future, sound like lions and tigers roaring in unison and feel like the god of comfort has woven a chariot especially for you but then does all of this make sense for it to be your practical fast car. Ummm?

What does a practical fast car mean? Something which mimics the joy and pleasure of owning a supercar and at the same time doesn’t compel you to apply for a fuel loan. And just to escalate my theory from mere words to an actual specimen, we have got the new generation 2015 Audi TT Coupe; a car that retains its original soul but gets a new character with tons of modernity. Our drive experience is here.

2015 Audi TT: Design and Styling

I have driven the previous generation Audi TT and developed a liking for its unique design and voluptuous exteriors. However, the new generation TT has not just turned tables but flipped it somewhere beyond anyone’s assumption as firstly, it doesn’t carry any of the early flab and curves and much like Audi’s new generation models, this one gets a sword cut feel all over.

There is a brand new single frame grille done in brushed aluminium and inside the grille are multiple piano black slats. The headlights too have been slashed of any curvy surface and instead get an edgy outline with the latest LED Matrix headlights. With the use of a camera and LEDs, the light emitting diodes sense oncoming traffic and following tail lamps and instantly dip to avoid discomforting the driver in the other vehicle. Also, it has a deeper relevance considering the inner bezels are actually homage to the Audi R18-tron racer.

The overall arrangement of the sharp grille and centrally focussed design is reminiscent of the new generation Audi R8 which is a good thing as it brings a certain point of connect among various models. The silhouette retains a lot from the earlier model in terms of lines and profiles. The length too has been left undisturbed but the wheelbase has been stretched further to make the wheels occupy absolute corner of the design.

The sudden rise of the A-Pillar followed by the relaxed roofline meeting the rear make it look subtle and elegant. The strong shoulder profile is constant and to the rear it gets aluminium finished fuel cap, again a trait of TT models. Also similar are the flared wheel arches for that extra muscle power.

Our media car came with 245/40 R18 tyres with 5-twin-spoke alloys however, we definitely recommend the 20-spoke V design as it look extremely sporty along with a contrasting bright paint shade. There are eight standard options to choose from and in case your taste is unique and different, you can choose from a host of options lined up at the Audi exclusive paint gallery.

The deployable rear spoiler works on a touch of a button and is indeed a fancy feature that leaves a strong impact on the kid in you. The lines on the tail lights have been revised too with dynamic indicators and then there are well spaced twin exhaust pipes fixed on the brushed aluminium finished rear diffuser.

2015 Audi TT: Interiors and Features

The inside of the new Audi TT has been retouched with a completely revolutionary approach as the front dashboard takes an inspiration from an aircraft wing which starts with a thicker section facing the driver, offering him the reach of all buttons and knobs to make sure he has got everything ergonomically placed while in front of the co-passenger the layout thins out.

Also, the aviation inspiration doesn’t end there as the air-conditioner vents too look like turbines with a surround finished in piano black. Other than its design, it also houses automatic climate control buttons which makes it ultra cool. You can change modes, set temperature and switch ON/OFF using these three feature soft buttons. This adds to the overall appeal and also makes ergonomic sense considering the area it saves.

Take a look at the instrumental cluster and you would agree that had Columbus used it, he would have reached his correct destination for the 12.3-inch TFT screen is the largest to be fitted in a cluster. This helps driver to not get distracted by shuffling between the cluster and the central screen and also displays a large navigational area. This also came in handy when we were shooting in Mumbai. The buttons and dial on the steering wheel make it extremely easy to operate. It also displays essential vehicle information such as trip and fuel information, drive mode selector and entertainment options.

The Audi TT sits at the beginner of the sports car range from the Ingolstadt based but the seats scream otherwise. The rich light brown leather that covers the seats with the right stitch quality reminds you of that in Italian sports cars. The seats can be electrically adjusted to make room for your average sized legs and knees and in case you are tall, you can complain the almighty for making you like that instead of venting it out at the tight space. The second row is best for carrying suitcases as the TT is not meant to be a transporter but a leisure choice of two occupants.

2015 Audi TT: Drive, Engine and Performance

The new Audi TT sits on the same MQB platforms that underpins the new generation Skoda Octavia and Audi A3. This fact already had created an impression of a fast coupe carving corners as it entered turns and left it with great pomp. The grille also read Quattro meaning the new TT has all its claws stuck on the tarmac to make sure every point of contact helps you propel faster.

But first, the basic facts about the 2015 Audi TT. There is a 2.0-litre TFSI motor that produces 227 hp of power between 4500 rpm to 6200 rpm and 370 Nm of raw torque between 1600 rpm to 4300 rpm. It will officially do 0 – 100 km/h in 5.3 seconds which is sprinting fast and can reach a top whack of 250 km/h, which can be only tested on a proper track.

The Audi TT also gets a 6-speed dual-clutch transmission with the only possible lag of human intervention and other than that the shifts are lightening quick. After having driven the earlier generation TT, the feeling was nice as it pretty much like an obedient nerd kid responded to every command but the new gen TT is a whole new character as it is considerably lighter and has much technology supporting its sporty driving style.

We chose to drive it in Mumbai; a city filled with aspirations, dreams, ideas and traffic. As lunatic it might sound to test a sports coupe in a crowded place like this, the set of challenges were high. There are bikers who want to ride over you, cabbies and buses who want to live the Mad Max lifestyle in real. The light feel of the steering wheel came in with great advantage as manoeuvring it was extremely easy. The ellectromechanical steering is speed sensitive and gets more precise at higher speeds.

Audi Drive Select comes as standard on the TT with a choice of five vivid modes. The usual mundane driving can be tackled with the comfort mode where the throttle response and steering feel are adjusted for a relaxed driving style and if you want to spice up the setup with a need for speed style of driving, select the Dynamic mode where the motor gets eager for shifts and also holds on to the power band for a longer. The throttle note too gets coarser than the standard mode.

Impressively, the new 2015 Audi TT has a sharper ride quality and there are multiple reasons for it. Firstly, the body is lighter with the use of steel and aluminium in its construction. Secondly, the new platform has made it a lot agile and then the S-tronic transmission with paddle shifters that just ups the game. Thus, each time you are on the highway, you would want to take it around corners as at feels extremely stable and holds on the arch of the turn with great ease.

2015 Audi TT: Final Verdict

To get into an argument, some might throw light on the slightly more expensive Mercedes-Benz CLA 45 AMG which makes more numbers compared to this fast coupe however take a proper look and the CLA 45 AMG is a derivative of the CLA Class and is as much a sedan for four as the standard model. On the other hand the Audi TT is not a derivative of any other offering and is truly unique. This particular trait gets highlighted in a parking lot where amongst many similar looking vehicles; this one stands out with its low slung wide squat pose.

The new design makes it cheat air resistance and boredom equally. The well equipped cabin with premium selection of leather along with superior TFT technology makes you want to be inside for long. At Rs 60.34 lakhs, get yourself an access to the fast coupe class and your weekends won’t be dull ever.

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